Challenging Times for Construction, but Housing Still Bouyant

Following the release of the latest UK Construction PMI today (6 May 2022), Brendan Sharkey, Head of Construction and Real Estate at MHA, believes the construction sector faces a challenging environment as rising costs cut into profit margins, although demand for new builds in the housing market continues unabated, despite the cost of living crisis:

 

“The UK construction sector continues to ride a wave of strong demand. However, construction work is now less profitable due to inflation and interest rate rises. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to be responsible for some staggering prices increases. We’ve seen the price of certain raw materials surge by 20% or more within a month.

“Hopefully employers and larger construction firms will be sympathetic to the struggles of smaller businesses. If they are not, we may see more than a few casualties. In the long term, the sector may experience a decline in new civil engineering, commercial and industrial projects as businesses and investors start to hold back on new orders until price stability returns and there is more economic certainty.

“Housing is a bright spot, especially outside of London. Despite the cost of living crisis, housing demand shows little signs of slowing, boosted by high levels of employment across the economy. The rising cost of living and of increasing mortgage costs will surely start to bite soon, but even then demand for new build homes should continue to be strong. Compared to second-hand properties newer builds are generally more energy efficient thereby saving running costs but also avoiding potentially expensive energy refurbishment in years to come.

“The government can do very little to support the sector at this time. It has already stimulated demand through infrastructure projects, including HS2, and work generated to meet the standards set by the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) action plan. The big question is how businesses can meet this demand while also addressing rising costs. Now would be a good time to reassess delivery models to identify potential cost-savings. Firms also need to be vigorous in negotiating and renegotiating contracts. Rampant inflation means a job that looked profitable one month will be loss-making the next.”

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FMB – Clear Guidance Needed on New Regulations

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has warned that builders are in need of ‘urgent clear guidance’ to help them understand changes to building regulations coming into force in England on 15 June.

The changes seek to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. They are interim measures ahead of the Future Homes and Building Standards set for 2025.

The changes are complex for small builders that are time-poor, said the FMB, “especially without good communication from government”. It has called on the government to provide clear guidance to make sure that small builders are informed of the changes.

This call comes as the FMB publishes its latest State of Trade Survey, which shows that 52 per cent of builders are not yet prepared or aware of the changes.

The survey of FMB members for the first quarter of 2022 also found that:

  • 98 per cent of builders report an increase in material costs, with 83 per cent passing these costs to customers.
  • 73 per cent of builders have delayed jobs owing to a lack of materials.
  • 55 per cent are delaying work owing to a lack of skilled labour.
  • 4 per cent reported an increase in workload and members reported no increase in enquiries.
  • 45 per cent of builders are struggling to hire carpenters/joiners, 2 per cent more than in the previous quarter.
  • 40 per cent of respondents are finding it difficult to hire bricklayers, 1 per cent less than the previous quarter.
  • 95 per cent of respondents expect material costs to increase in Q2 2022.
  • Wales reported workload in Q1 is 25 per cent, down from 67 per cent in Q4 2021.
  • Scotland reported workload in Q1 is 31 per cent, up from 29 per cent in Q4 2021.
  • Northern Ireland reported workload in Q1 is 31 per cent, down from 37 per cent in Q4 2021.

What the chief executives said:

Brian Berry, chief executive at the FMB, said: “The FMB’s State of Trade Survey highlights just how underprepared the building industry is for regulatory changes coming into force in June. Builders can’t be blamed for this situation given the poor communication and engagement coming from government. The government needs to help address this issue by providing clear guidance to help builders understand what is expected of them.

“The survey also shows that availability of materials and skills shortages are not going away. These issues, coupled with crippling price rises, are causing real problems for the building industry. Delays and increases in prices will put off consumers, who are already reluctant to commission new work as their own costs spiral.”

Gordon Nelson, director of FMB Scotland, said: “With inflation rising to 7 per cent, which is the highest rate it has been for 30 years; the resultant depletion of consumer spending power means that many local building firms across Scotland have experienced a sharp decline in enquiries for future works. It is comforting that current workloads remain buoyant.

Nelson continued: “However, continuing price increases across a swathe of construction products and materials, combined with sustained shortages of skilled labour, are thwarting building programmes from Brora to Biggar. These project delays reduce productivity and eat into builder’s profit margins, which have been squeezed in recent months by ongoing material price increases.

“We will be keeping a close eye on whether the next three months leads to an improvement in trading conditions for local building firms. With changes to the energy standards within the Scottish building regulations coming into effect later this year, Scottish builders have much to grapple with and our policy makers should take heed.”

Ifan Glyn, director of FMB Cymru, said “Builders in Wales are still experiencing high workloads and enquiry rates, although there are faint signals that the market could be starting to cool. Whether this is a sign of things to come or a blip in an otherwise buoyant market remains to be seen. What is unchanged is the rising costs and delays to projects largely caused by lack of access to building materials and skilled labour. I would urge both public and private sector clients to practise patience and understanding with our members during these turbulent times. I can assure you that they are just as frustrated as you with the situation.”

Gavin McGuire, director of FMB Northern Ireland, said: “The recent FMB State of Trade Survey figures for NI demonstrate the slight decline in workloads for the SME sector over the past six months. A period of economic uncertainty, increased material costs and rising household bills have seen a number of projects cancelled or put on hold.

“With a new NI Executive due to be elected in May, the industry needs stable institutions and investment into key strategies such as housing, energy and local development plans to maintain stronger pipelines of secured work.”

Source: The Planner

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Turmoil not ‘Profiteering’ the Cause of Cost Increases

The Construction Industry Collective Voice (CICV) has reassured clients that ongoing price rises for projects are caused by global events not “profiteering” and said any increases only reflect the spiralling costs that are affecting the whole construction industry.

Clients have voiced concerns about the increasing costs of construction work, but the body insists this is due only to ongoing global events sparking a rise in fuel costs and shortages of raw materials and labour.

Iain McIlwee, chief executive of CICV member the Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS), said: “The war in Ukraine, energy price hikes, impact of Brexit and fallout from COVID-19 have all created a ‘perfect storm’ just as there is a surge in demand, with price increases being imposed on the industry as a result.

“Construction professionals are increasingly being forced to shoulder these ongoing rises, particularly when it comes materials, and are having no option but to pass these increases on to clients. But it is not profiteering – it is a necessity for these businesses to survive.”

The CICV’s Post-Brexit & Trade sub-group this week discussed the higher costs for raw materials, energy, labour and transport being faced by construction businesses of all sizes in Scotland, with particular focus on inflationary pressures for SMEs caused by external factors.

Mr McIlwee added: “This is a really challenging time for all in the construction supply chain with costs rising, often at short notice.  The critical thing now is that we work together as a supply chain.

“Too often in construction we have contracted down all risks, but we are now in a position where fixed prices could undermine the resilience of contractors or suppliers and we need to adopt a more collaborative approach and consider how fluctuations clauses can be deployed and any risks fairly shared so as not to undermine the quality or viability of a project or businesses.”

The CICV says as well as the negative impact of political, military and health issues, the withdrawal of red diesel in April has also led to higher costs for construction firms.

Chris Cassley, policy manager at CICV member the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA), said: “The UK Government’s environmental strategy with the removal of red diesel for construction plant has undoubtedly contributed to the current financial impact on industry, and despite representations to government departments, has proceeded regardless.

“The rise in energy and material prices, together with supply chain pressures and higher inflationary figures, has led to a tipping balance for suppliers and customers alike, and in many instances resulted in necessary price increases. These increases are very likely to be passed back up to the client and for government projects, it will be the taxpayer who will ultimately have to pay.”

Another warning came from Andrew Richards, strategic director of Safedem and a member of the Construction Scotland Industry Leadership Group, (representing SMEs and the supply chain) which is working in tandem with CICV to support the industry.

Mr Richards said: “The knock-on effects caused by the global events of the past two years looks like they will continue for the immediate future, so clients should consider fluctuations and rises in construction costs as part of ‘the new normal’ and shouldn’t expect prices to fall any time soon.

“Construction professionals are equally concerned about the uncertainty that surrounds the marketplace and are only passing on cost increases through necessity, not greed.”

The Post-Brexit & Trade panel is one of 12 sub-groups run by the CICV, covering a range of issues ranging from health and safety and skills to the supply chain and project bank accounts.

The collective was rebranded from the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum at the start of 2022 to reflect its widened remit, which now covers all areas of construction

Since its creation in March 2020, the CICV has drawn on the collective expertise of its members to maintain a steady supply of information and practical advice to the sector as well as carrying out surveys, hosting webinars and making appeals to government ministers.

 

Source: Scottish Construction Now

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CPA WARNS BEWARE THE ‘HEADWINDS’

Construction activity buoyant, but strong headwinds coming, warns Construction Products Association

In its latest quarterly forecast, the Construction Products Association (CPA) sees a dramatic slowing in growth, with uncertainty ahead as global issues start to affect the UK market.

In previous years, the predicted 2.8% growth in construction output anticipated by the CPA team would be cause for celebration. However, while a robust figure, this is a sharp revision down from the 4.3% growth forecast just three months ago.

Demand remains strong across the industry in Q2, and the current project pipeline suggests that this will support activity levels until at least 2022 Q3. The downward revision to the growth forecast stems from concern around a host of price pressures arising from both local and global issues.

Prior to the conflict in Ukraine, UK construction was already facing labour and product availability issues and the impact of reverse charge VAT and IR35. Rising energy costs were driving near-record price increases in construction products and the continued conflict is exacerbating this issue.

The impact of these pressures, and of more general rising costs, on demand will vary considerably by sector. Across the board the picture is one of positive market conditions in the short term with anticipation of tougher times ahead.

In private housing repair, maintenance and improvement, the stellar performer post the initial Covid-19 lockdowns, SMEs report that demand remains high, but this is the sector arguably most exposed to current price inflation, falls in consumer confidence and pressures on household incomes. Overall, output is expected to fall by 3% in 2022 and 4% next year from current all-time highs.

Private housing, the largest construction sector, remains strong, with housebuilders reporting resilient demand. Longer term, there must be questions over consumer confidence but output in this sector is forecast to rise by 1% in both 2022 and 2023. This contrasts with the 3% per year growth forecast three months ago.

The fastest growth is expected in the industrial sector, in which output is forecast to rise by 9.8% in 2022 and 9.3% in 2023, due to a strong pipeline of warehouse projects, resulting from a long-term shift towards online shopping.

Infrastructure, traditionally less affected by immediate economic conditions, remains positive. Large projects such as HS2, Thames Tideway and Hinkley Point C combined with the five-year spending plans in Page 2 of 3 regulated sectors such as rail, road and power generation point to a forecasted growth of 8.8% in 2022 and 4.6% in 2023.

On the supply side, the main immediate impact of the war in Ukraine for construction products will be the knock-on from rising energy prices and commodity shortages. Soaring energy costs will have to be passed on and lead to sharp rises in the cost of energy-intensive products. This will affect both imported products such as aluminium and steel and locally sourced products such as bricks and cement.

Contractors are likely to feel the pressure first, particularly those working to fixed-price contracts. For future projects, contractors will be forced to re-price, add fluctuation costs and introduce risk-sharing arrangements to deal with the uncertainty over potential cost inflation.

Noble Francis, CPA Economics Director, offered this summary of the latest figures: “The major challenge is creeping uncertainty. The immediate picture is one of resilient demand and healthy pipelines. Longer term, the current inflationary pressures, if sustained, will have an increasingly depressing impact, while the continuation, or potential escalation, of conflict in Europe presents an existential risk.

“Specialist sub-contractors are feeling the effects first, particularly those working to fixed-price contracts. For future projects, contractors will be forced to re-price, add fluctuation clauses and introduce risk sharing arrangement to deal with the uncertainty over potential cost inflation.”

Construction Products Association

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CALLS FOR STONEHENGE TUNNEL TO BE MADE LONGER

Supporters of a longer Stonehenge Tunnel are continuing to insist the alternative solution should be considered in new documents submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

This comes in response to transport secretary Grant Shapps’ request for further comments on the scheme from interested parties.

In its submission to the Planning Inspectorate, the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) said it “continues to urge” a reconsideration of alternatives due to the harm that the proposed scheme would do to the World Heritage Site (WHS).

The CBA said its position remains the same as in evidence submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in May 2019, when it suggested considering a southern surface route or a long bored tunnel “to remove the A303 from the WHS without unduly harming other objectives”.

Overall, the CBA stressed that it does not believe alternatives have been adequately considered in the planning process.

Its submission says: “We reiterate even more strongly that far more serious consideration should therefore be given to any alternatives by which the harm to the WHS could be avoided – especially where they offer much greater opportunities for enhancement and rehabilitation.”

The CBA added that if a long tunnel under the whole of the WHS is not achievable, then other alternatives such as the southern surface route should be examined “to avoid the unacceptable harm caused by the proposed scheme”.

“The CBA examined this issue in some detail, recognising that if a substantially longer tunnel is not acceptable, the southern surface offers significant advantages which had not been optimised or given sufficient weight,” the submission says.

“This includes how beneficial outcomes are weighed against harm – especially in the context of how the cumulative effects of the existing highway are dealt with as required by NPSNN, how adverse effects might be ameliorated and how cost benefits are identified.”

The current plans are for a 12.8km dual carriageway, and a 3.2km tunnel underneath the World Heritage Site closely following the existing A303 route.

Shapps is currently in the process of “re-determining” his decision on National Highways’ planning application for the Stonehenge Tunnel after a High Court judge ruled his original decision to approve the scheme as “unlawful”.

As part of the process, Shapps released a statement of matters in December last year which sets out the aspects of the planning application that he will be taking another look at.

A big part of redetermining the application is looking at the environmental and carbon impact of the proposed scheme in relation to government commitments and legislation. Shapps will also have to prove that he has considered an alternative scheme for a longer tunnel.

However National Highways has stood by its original Stonehenge Tunnel plans.

In documents submitted to the Planning Inspectorate, National Highways said its position regarding a bored tunnel extension “remains unchanged” and “this option should be excluded from further development”.

The roads operator added: “There is no evidence that the additional investment required to extend the tunnel length would deliver meaningful additional benefits to the World Heritage Site (WHS) that would justify the additional cost.”

National Highways has also ruled out a series of other alternatives. The cut and cover tunnel extension was rejected on the grounds that the balance of benefits and disbenefits would not justify the “significant additional cost”.

Surface routes to the south of the WHS were also rejected due to their “much larger footprint” and “greater overall environmental impact than the partially tunnelled options”.

National Highways project director for the A303 Stonehenge scheme Derek Parody said: “It is a scheme objective to conserve and enhance the WHS and this is being achieved through close collaborative working with heritage groups, including English Heritage, National Trust, Historic England and the independent A303 Scientific Committee, and our archaeology contractors Wessex Archaeology.

“The scheme will not only sustain the Outstanding Universal Value of the WHS, it will also have a beneficial effect, and extensive archaeological studies and assessments have been undertaken to provide evidence of the benefits that the scheme will deliver for the World Heritage Site.

“A longer tunnel would represent a significant cost, provide limited benefits to heritage and limit the effectiveness of the scheme in relieving congestion along the route and associated local traffic problems.”

Source: New Civil Engineer

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The Balance of Net Zero and Finance

BSI’s annual Net Zero Barometer Report shows that almost half (49%) of UK senior decision makers are prioritising growth in their organization while one in five (20%) are prioritizing the reduction of carbon emissions.

While the proportion focused on carbon reduction represents a sizeable minority, many business leaders continue to find it hard to think about the net zero transition in a context where the UK economy slowly recovers from the effects of the pandemic and businesses try to address supply chain issues, inflationary pressures and labour shortages. Indeed only a fifth (21%) of those polled confirmed that they were fully aware of what net zero targets mean in practice for their organization.

The 2022 Net Zero survey of 1,000 senior decision makers and sustainability professionals did find a desire and an optimism that the UK can and will achieve its net zero goal. The majority of those surveyed (71%) had already set targets to meet net zero, and 78% were more convinced post-COP26 that reaching net zero targets was possible. This is a big step forward from BSI’s 2021 survey where only 40% of organizations had made a net zero commitment and a further 31% were “considering it”.

Despite this progress on targets and commitments, cost remains a significant barrier to implementation for many organizations. Almost half of decision makers (45%) cited cost as a barrier, clearly making it the leading challenge for organizations looking to reach net zero, above supply chain (29%) and regulation (25%).

Almost two-thirds (65%) of decision makers say they have accelerated efforts to operate at net zero as a result of the pandemic. There is a willingness to collaborate and learn to meet targets, with nearly three-quarters of those surveyed saying their organization is getting guidance from external sources, and 46% reporting that they would like more support.

Scott Steedman, Director-General, Standards at BSI said: “The COP26 summit in Glasgow and media coverage around that showed that many businesses are gearing up for the net zero transition, seeing competitive advantage in becoming more sustainable. On the other hand, business leaders are also having to deal with supply chain challenges, rising energy costs, labour shortages and high inflation. There is a big risk that industry overlooks the net zero transition in their quest for economic growth or even simply business survival.

“These pressures could easily create an either/or narrative for both businesses and consumers, a choice between cutting costs or cutting carbon. However, the evidence suggests businesses can do both, cut costs and cut carbon, and international standards are a prime tool to achieve this.

“As businesses become more efficient and self-sustaining, they become more resilient and their exposure to global events, whether supply chain uncertainty or energy prices, is lessened. Acting to address their social responsibilities will help to boost recruitment and retention. Collaborative working with other organisations can help reduce the cost of the net zero transition. Fundamentally, businesses should take a strategic view of the opportunities for growth and cost-savings that will come from building a decarbonized, sustainable organization. Net zero is a huge challenge, but also a huge opportunity.”

 

To analyse how UK businesses are managing the transition to net zero, BSI commissioned an independent survey of 1,000 UK senior decision makers and sustainability professionals across a range of industries to achieve a representative data sample. This the second annual survey.

 

CLICK HERE to download the 2021 Net Zero Barometer

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We don’t need to choose between air quality and energy efficiency

The pandemic has focused attention on the need for better building ventilation, but this need not come at the expense of saving energy and cutting carbon, according to a leading building services engineer.

Speaking at a webinar hosted by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), AECOM’s Ella Clark said this was “not an either/or issue”

“We now know that doubling the rate of ventilation reduces the spread of Covid-19 by around half and that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends ventilation as a first-line strategy for getting people back to the office,” she said.

“We can make our HVAC systems pandemic resilient and design buildings with excellent indoor air quality (IAQ) that are also low carbon.”

Clark, who is a mechanical engineer and committee member of the British Council for Offices (BCO), said the use of technologies like radiant heating and cooling panels, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), and direct evaporative cooling can all improve the indoor conditions without driving up energy consumption.

“Displacement ventilation is a good option because it is more effective at drawing away pathogens compared with top-down air mixing,” she explained. “It can reduce energy cost by 20% because it allows air to be introduced into the occupied space at higher temperatures so reducing the need for cooling power. However, it does require larger volumes of air so needs bigger air handling units etc.”

Polluted

Natural ventilation is the most energy efficient option with energy savings as high as 79% depending on what it is replacing – equivalent to as much as £30,000 per annum in running costs for a commercial building, according to Clark. However, it increases the risk of introducing polluted air into the indoor space.

“Many studies show that the IAQ can be considerably worse than the outdoor air in these circumstances…and 75% of urban areas in the UK are above the WHO recommendations for air quality.”

Health experts have been quick to highlight the crucial role played by ventilation in maintaining health and comfort through temperature and humidity control and by reducing moisture, odours, and gases. A NASA study also showed that human productivity fell by 3.6% for every 1degC the indoor temperature rises above 22degC.

The BCO recommends temperature in offices should be maintained at between 20 and 24degC and there should be 12 litres per second per person (l/s pp) of clean air introduced with an additional 10% in high density occupied spaces. It also says that controlling humidity is crucial.

Clark told the BESA webinar that BCO studies showed the average relative humidity (RH) in offices was 38% whereas for good health it should be between 40 and 60%. At 35% people will experience eye irritation, nasal dryness, and sore throats. This also has important implications for future health emergencies.

“At 23% RH more than 70% of flu particles remain infectious after an hour in the air, but at 43% that falls to just 14% according to a range of studies,” she explained “However, providing those conditions can lead to an energy penalty if you use humidifiers. Adding an extra 0.28 l/s pp can increase energy demand by 0.6kWh/m2 per annum which is 5,000 kw annually for a large office.”

Mechanical ventilation offers a more controllable approach that can also make use of filtration to reduce the ingress of pollutants into occupied spaces. “We want to ensure that we are filtering down to PM2.5. There are HEPA filters and ULPA filters which are typically used in clean rooms in hospitals,” said Clark.

“You will get a higher pressure drop across these filters and they do also have to be maintained, but we can still find the balance between healthy indoor conditions and sustainability if we use the right design approach.”

Clark’s presentation followed the launch of BESA’s third piece of IAQ guidance in just over a year.

‘Buildings as Safe Havens – a practical guide’ outlines strategies facilities managers and building owners can follow and provides targeted questions they can put to ventilation experts to establish the right air quality approach for their building.

It can be downloaded for free along with the Association’s other IAQ guides here.

BESA webinars can be watched on demand here: www.thebesa.com/besa-webinars/

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OUTLINE PLANNING GRANTED FOR 4.25m sq ft DEVELOPMENT

Associated British Ports (ABP) has been granted outline planning consent to build more than 4.25 million sq ft of industrial, manufacturing and logistics buildings at the Port of Hull despite receiving 800 objections.

The 453 acres of land includes 212 acres located within the East Hull Humber Freeport tax assisted zone, which offers tax incentives for inward investors.

There will also be space retail, business, hotel, assembly, and leisure and other ancillary uses.

Part of the site could also be used for a park-and-ride, as well as a potential rail link to the port.

 

Simon Bird, regional director for the Humber, inset, said: “This is one of the premier development sites in the North of England. It’s an exciting opportunity and great to have planning permission so that HIEP (Humber International Enterprise Park) can now get up and running.“The site offers huge potential to support business growth. Port-centric manufacturers and distributors would have easy access to import and export commodities while benefiting from the Humber Freeport status.”

 

The site is part of a tranche of more than 1,000 acres of development land across 14 locations, which ABP has launched to support the UK’s supply chain, manufacturing, and renewable energy sectors.

The council’s planning committee voted in favour of the scheme at a meeting last year and the decision to approve has now been issueD.

CBRE and Savills are advising ABP on the development opportunities at HIEP.

The planning application was also supported by The Harris Partnership, Montagu Evans, Systra, Aecom and Considine.

Permission has also been granted for a new spine road running between Hedon Road and Paull Road.

Councillors voted five-to-one in favour of approval despite receiving 800 letters objecting to the scheme.

The planning officer’s official report acknowledged that the scheme could cause potential “adverse effects on the living conditions” of nearby residents, but added that the “reasoning for allowing this application has been clearly and convincingly justified, and the substantial public benefits established”.

Source: The Yorkshire Post

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Stewart Milne Homes up for sale as founder set to retire

Stewart Milne Group is embarking on a sale process of its housebuilding business, following the decision of its founder and principal shareholder to retire.

Nearly 50 years after founding the group, chairman Stewart Milne (71) is making plans for his retirement and the Board has decided to capitalise on the current strong performance of homes’ sales and favourable market conditions by putting the business up for sale.

Stewart Milne Group, which recently sold its timber frame business to focus on housebuilding in its core markets in Scotland and North-West England, has taken major steps to improve efficiency and profitability to reposition the business for future growth.

The award-winning, independent housebuilding group has delivered one of its best ever financial performances for the year ending 31st October 2021. These accounts will show a dramatic increase in turnover and profits driven by high demand for its family homes.

 

Stewart Milne said: “The unprecedented events of the last two years have forced many to re-evaluate and, after considerable soul-searching, I have decided that the time is right to step back from the business I founded to prioritise my time for family, friends and other ventures I want to pursue.

“In the last 18 months, we’ve significantly strengthened the business with major efficiencies and our new homes range. This ambitious overhaul of our designs offers a new range of spacious, high quality family homes that meet the changing needs of buyers. We are superbly placed to capitalise on the favourable market conditions and demand which are set to continue in the near-term.”

 

Stewart Milne Group says that, in order to realise its growth ambitions, significant investment is required, particularly in its strategic land bank to create future, high-margin development opportunities.

The group board carefully considered all options with its advisers and came to the unanimous conclusion to investigate a potential sale. Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) has been appointed as financial adviser to the group in this process.

 

Stewart Milne Group chief executive, Stuart MacGregor, added: “We anticipate attracting a high level of interest from potential buyers who will invest in order to capitalise on the strength of our business and the buoyancy of the current homes market.

“We have one of the strongest sales pipelines in our history and anticipate generating significant sales over the next two years. With a strategic bank of land, award-winning developments, our new homes range and recently completed investments in new IT systems and in digital transformation, Stewart Milne Group presents a compelling proposition.

“Our design and build standards of excellence in creating distinctive and highly desirable communities are a key differentiator, positioning us as a leader in place-making.

“However, with land prices rising, more investment is needed to take advantage of our unrivalled land-buying experience and the development opportunities available.”

 

Stewart Milne Group has offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester with a workforce of 1,000, including sub-contractors. Around 20 developments are currently at various stages across Scotland and North-West England including Dargavel Village, Shawfair, Haddington, East Linton, Hooton and Congleton.

Stewart Milne Group

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Leadership Dinners Commence in Newquay

Constructing Excellence South West launches renowned leadership dinner series

The renowned Constructing Excellence South West (CESW) leadership dinner series has kick started for 2022 in Newquay.

The organisation, designed to drive positive change in construction, has relaunched its exclusive dinners in the South West region to bring together key clients, architects, engineers, contractors politicians and supply chain in the built environment.

Global business insurance, risk management and consulting services company Gallagher is the sole sponsor of the leadership dinners, which will be continuing to run throughout 2022, across an additional nine areas within the region.

The first event took place in Newquay, and the climate crisis, building safety and procurement on value were the main focus for the evening.

Members of the CE Cornwall family openly talked about their experiences of working in the industry, and shared their recommendations on how to combat these issues head-on.

Andrew Carpenter, CEO of CESW, said: “We’re well known at Constructing Excellence South West for the leadership dinners we host. It’s something we’ve done for several years, and focuses on getting the key movers and shakers from any given area to discuss the biggest issues affecting the construction industry.

“Typically, we discuss key issues in the construction sector, and then consider how they’re affecting the South West in particular. This year we will be looking at climate crisis, building safety and procurement on value – topics which have a big impact on the future of the industry.

“We have nine leadership dinners organised throughout the region and we’re looking forward to seeing what comes from each separate event. We want to thank Gallagher for sponsoring the dinners and facilitating the discussions around building safety. Their contribution has proven vital to bringing together key players from right around the South West.”

Andy Ferguson, Managing Director for Gallagher in Bristol added: “Construction is a significant sector here in the South West and it’s one that we’re well experienced in supporting with insurance and risk management solutions.

“Partnering with Andrew and the wider Constructing Excellence South West teams enables us to further help the businesses in this sector, listen to the challenges they face and support in facilitating positive change.”

The remaining Constructing Excellence South West leadership dinners will be held in

Exeter, Bath, Bridgwater, Gloucester, Bournemouth, Swindon, Bristol and Plymouth.

For more information about Constructing Excellence South West

and their key areas of focus

PLEASE CLICK HERE

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